Cleaning implement



July 9, 1935'. J KNQTT I 2,@U7,536

CLEANING IMPLEMENT Filed Feb. 27, 1954 INVENTQR yww I ATTORNEY PatentedJuly 9,. 1935 PATENT OFFICE CLEANING IMPLEMENT Arthur J. Knott, Natick,Mass.

Application February 27, 1934, Serial No. 713,108

4 Claims.

My inventionrelates to :a. cleaning implement and more-especially to anarrangement for at- :taching a handle, or the like, to a, frameassociated-with the pad of an applicator, polisher,

[The-usual wax applicator, polisher or mop consists, generally speaking,of ahead and a handle, theiheadcomprising a frame to which a pad .or thelike isattached and the handle which is usually .anelongated wooden rod,having a connector on one of its ends, the connector being ,securedin;some manner-on the frame. In order that theangle of the handle, withrespect to the "head, may bevaried to suitdifferent operatingconditions, :it' has been proposed, insome instances, toprovide aconnector having a pivotal engagement with the frame, some form ofclamping-vdeviceserving .to hold the handle in the desiredposition,usua1ly. by friction. I

I have found that, with certain types of work, it is desirable to havethe applicatorv or mop, head sf-rec to swing on the handle while, withother types of :work, it is better to have the head rigid with respectto the'handle the latter being-at an angle with respectto the head..Thaprincipal object of the present invention is vto bring about a formof. applicator, polisher' or mop which may be adapted more readily; thanheretofore possibleyto thenvarious working conditions under which'thesedevices are used.

In a more specific aspect it'isan objectof the invention :to bringabout:a form of wax applioatonpolisheror mop which'may be adjusted sothat the head mayhave'either a more or .less

free swinging movement,with respect to the han- 'dle, or so -that 'thehandle is rigidly secured "againstx movement with respect to the head,the handle being preferably at an angleto the head.

A feature of the invention resides in a form 'of -cleaning' implementhead and handle conmay be adjusted so as to be rignector which idly heldor locked against movement with respect to one another and in which theuseof ffrictional contacts, for this purpose, is entirely eliminated. Ig

'Afurther feature of the invention resides in aform of cleaningimplement frame, and handle connector associated therewith, which may beformed entirely out of sheetmaterial.

' In carrying-out the invention I propose to make use of a cylindricalpivot member, asso- "ciated with the cleaning implement frame andforming 'a' seat for are dfthe cylindrical pivot member being at rightangles to the handle axis.

the handle connector, the

A still further feature-of the invention resides in a pivot memtheapplicator handle in a different position;

Fig. 4 is a. sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. l, but on anenlarged scale, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings in which I have illustrated my inventionby showing a preferred embodiment of the same, the reference numeral IDindicates, in general, the frame of a Wax applicator head, or thelike,the frame, in this instance, taking the form of a pair of co-operatingsheet metal plates II and I2, between which a pad I3, of sheep-skin orother suitable material, is clamped. The plates I I and I 2 are pressedinto channel form, theupper plate I I being somewhat narrower than thelower plate I2 and having downwardly directed flanges I4 and I5, on,

two of its opposite side edges, the flanges I4 and I5 being receivedbetween the upwardly directed ,fianges I6 and IT, on the side edges ofplate I2 plicato-r frame.

Two longitudinally directed slits are formed in plate I I, the slitsbeing spaced from one another and parallel to the side edges of theplate. The material of the plate II, between the slits, is

pressed upwardly to form an elongated arched rib I9, the rib beingmidway between the side edges of plate II and midway between the endsthereof. The rib I9 is folded around a cylindrical rod 20, to form acylindrical handle connector seat, the axis of the seat being spacedfrom the upper face of plate II and parallel to the side edges thereof.The ends 2I and 22, of rib I9,. are substantially flat, where the ribmerges into the plate II, but are of arcuate cross-sectional shapetowards the handle seat, the radius of simple.

curvature decreasing towards the seat until, adjacent the seat, theradius of curvature is the same as that of the seat. The folding of thematerial of the rib l9, around rod 20, leaves openings 23 and 24, inplate II, on the opposite sides of rib IS, the opening 23 beingrelatively narrow while the opening 24 is relatively wider. Theadditional width, given to opening 24, may be obtained by removing thenecessary part of the plate either during or after the formation of ribIS. The edges 25 and 26, of openings 23 and 24, are parallel to the sideedges of plate H, as shown in Fig. 1.

On the inner end of handle 21, which may be of any desired length, is ahandle connector 28, made out of two somewhat similar sheet metalstampings 29 and 30, each of which has a hollow semi-cylindrical end, asat 3| and 32, the inner end of handle 21 being received within the ends3| and 32. Near their opposite ends the connector parts 29 and 30 arearched, as at 33 and 34, to form co-operating transverse grooves 35 and36, within which the cylindrical seat of rib I9 is received.

The arched portions 33 and 34, of the connector parts 29 and 30, arejoined to the semicylindrical parts 3| and 32 by webs 31, 38, 39 and 40and conical extensions 4| and 42, the webs being fiat and in planesparallel to the plane defined by the axes of the handle and handleconnector seat. Beyond the arched portions 33 and 34 the connector parts29 and 30 terminate in jaws 43 and 44, jaw 43 being bent outwardly whilejaw 44 is bent inwardly, the jaws co-operating in a manner to behereinafter described. A bolt 45 passes through the connector parts 29and 30 and serves to clamp the same on the handle 21 and rib [9. Awinged nut 46 forms a convenient means for adjusting the pressureexerted on the handle and rib.

The operation of the applicator is relatively If the conditions, underwhich it is being used, are such that it is desirable to have the headcapable of swinging on the handle, the handle connector is assembled onits seat in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this position thecylindrical portion of the rib I9 is received in grooves 35 and 36, thejaws 43 and 44 extending into opening 24. The width of opening 24 issuch as to provide clearance for the laws 43 and 44, the handleconnector, and thus the handle, swinging on the cylindrical portion ofthe rib l9, subject to the frictional resistance of the rib IS in thegrooves which may be varied by tightening or loosening the winged nut 46on bolt 45.

If the conditions, under which the applicator is being used, are suchthat it is desirable to have the handle rigidly connected to the head,the nut 46 is loosened sufficiently for the connector to be withdrawnfrom the rib l9, whereuponthe connector is reversed on the frame intothe position shown in Fig. 3, the connector being reassembled on theframe with the rib I9 in grooves 35 and 36, the plate ll passing betweenthe jaws 43 and 44. The opening 23 provides clearance for the jaw 44 topass under the plate I I, the edge 25 of opening 23 being at such adistance from the rib l9 that the jaws may grip the plate ll over asubstantial area. The nut 46 is now tightened sufficiently for the jaws43 and 44 to grip the plate I I, and the arched portions 33 and 34 togrip the ribl 9, whereupon the handle connector and handle are rigidlyconnected to the head at an angle depending on the angle of the jaws 43and 44 with respect to the handle axis. An angle of 45 will be foundhighly desirable for most working conditions although this angle may bevaried if desired. It will be noted, especially from-Figs. 2, 3 and 5,that sufficient clearance is provided between the connector parts 23 and30 so that they will not come in contact as the nut 46 is tightened.

It will be readily understood, from the above description of theinvention, that the construction of the applicator is such that themanufacturing operations are almost entirely limited to press work, theamount of assembly work being reduced to a minimum. The usual bolts,screws or rivets, forming the seat for the handle connector, have beeneliminated, the sea-t provided, not only being more rigid than the usualseat, but being an integral and permanent part of the head frame and notsubject to becoming loosened or lost.

While the head may be assembled on the handle so as to swing thereon andthe swinging movement may be controlled by varying thefrictionalresistance of the handle connector on its seat,

no dependance is placed on such frictional contact for holding thehandle when it is desired to hold the head in a fixed position withrespect to the handle, the relation of the handle connector to the framebeing such that these parts may be locked rigidly together when desired.

While I have shown and described my invention in connection with a waxapplicator, it will be readily understood that it is not limited in itsapplication thereto, accordingly while I have shown and described apreferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that it isnot to be limitedto the details shown, but is capable of modificationand variation within the spirit of the invention and the scope of theappended claims.

What I' claim is:

1. In a cleaning implement, a head including a relatively .flat framenormally parallel to the surface to be cleaned, a handle, a handleconnector, a pivot element on theframe having an axis substantiallyparallel to the-frame, said connector being received in either of twopositions on the pivot element, gripping means on the end of theconnector, means on the frame at one side of the pivot element adaptedto be engaged and gripped by said gripping means when the connector isreceived on the pivot element in one of the positions and an opening inthe frame on the other side of the pivot element providing clearance forsaid gripping means when the connector is received on the pivot elementin the other of the positions, the connector being swingable on thepivot elementin the secondof the positions.

2. In a cleaning implement, a head including a sheet metal frame havinga part thereof normally parallel to the surface to be cleaned, a pivotelement on the frame having an axis substantially parallel to the partof the frame, there being openings in the frame at either side of thepivot element, one of the openings being of greater width than the othertransversely of the pivot axis, a handle, a handle connector on thehandle, said handle connector being adapted to be assembled on the pivotelement in either of two positions, and means on the connectoradapted toengage the frame at the edge of the opening of least width to hold theconnector against pivotal movement on the pivot element when theconnector is receivedthereon in one of the positions, the opening ofgreater width providing clearance for said means when the connector isreceived on the seat in the other position.

3. In a cleaning implement, a frame, a pivot element on the frame havingan axis normally parallel to the surface to be cleaned, a handle, a.handle connector, said handle connector having transverse opposinggrooves near its ends in which the pivot element maybe received, andcooperating jaws beyond the grooves, said connector being adapted to bereceived on the pivot element in either of two positions, and means onthe frame which is received and gripped between the jaws in one of thepositions to hold the connector against, pivotal movement on the I pivotelement, saidframe having an opening therein providing clearance for thejaws when the connector is received on the pivot element in the other ofthe positions, the connector being free to swing on the pivot element inthe last named position.

4. In a cleaning implement, a frame, a pivot element on the frame havingan axis normally parallel to the surface to be cleaned, a handle,

a handle connector, means on the end of the connector forming a groovewhich opens towards the connector end, said connector being received ineither of two positions on the pivot element, and means on the frame atone side of the pivot element which extends into the groove to hold theconnector against movement on the pivot element when the connector isreceived thereon in one of the positions, the frame being shaped toprovide clearance for the end of the connector when the connector isreceived on the pivot element in the other position, the connector beingfree to swing on the pivot when received thereon in the latter position.

ARTHUR J. KNOTT.

